Necktie stretcher



Patented Dec. 22, 1925.

UNITED STATES FRANK P. MARSON, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

NEGKTIE srnnrcnnnf Application filed June 5, 1925. Serial No; 35,060.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK P. Manson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pat-- erson, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Necktie Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a device for stretching tubular flexible articles, and especially neckties, so as to remove the creases or wrinkles therefrom and to construct the device so that the operation of fitting it to and removing it from the article may be quickly and easily effected and so that it shall be inexpensive to manufacture and may be folded into small. compass when not in use.

According to my invention I provide two substantially straight. levers arranged side by side and having a fulcrum-connection with each other adjustable transversely of the levers, said connection being arranged nearer one of the pairs of corresponding ends of the two levers than the other pair of such ends whereby the levers have a pair of corresponding short operating arms and a pair of corresponding long stretching arms, and means, engaged with the short operating lever arms, for securing the levers in different degrees of convergence to each other.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan of the device, showing a neck-tie in dotted outline;

Fig. 2 is a plan, showing the device partly folded; and

Fig. 3 is a plan of the knife-joint in one of the levers.

1 designates the mentioned levers. Each of these is made in two straight sections of strip material, preferably metal, such sections 1 and 1 being knife-jointed together as illustrated. By the term knife-jointed as herein used I mean a joint having a pivot at 2 and by which when one member moved on the pivot in one direction it will be brought to a stop in substantial alinement with the other member and when moved on the pivot in the opposite direction it may assume substantially completely folded relation to the other member; the stop in the present case is formed by a tang 3 projecting from one member into the plane of the other, being in the present case admitted to a notch 4 in the latter member when the members are alined.

5 designates the fulcrum-connector. In the present case this fulcrum-connector comprises two links 5 5 each of which is pivoted to one of the lever-sections 1, and one of them has a slot 6 and the other has a screw 7 which penetrates the slot and has a thumb nut 7 the screw and nut formingmeans to clamp the two links together. This particular type of fulcrum-connector is, on account of the slot, not only adjustable lengthwise, or transversely of the levers, but may buckle in the middle, as shown in Fig. 2, which will permit the two levers to be brought in folding the device into substantially side by side contact with each other without one being offset longitudinally with respect .to the other. The fulcrum connector is pivoted to the levers nearer to one of their pairs of corresponding ends than the other of such pairs, so that they have a pair of correspond- 1ng short operating arms and a pair of corresponding long stretching arms.

The means for securing the levers in different angular relation to each other here consists of a bar 8 which is pivoted to the free end of one lever section 1 and has its other end formed forked to receive a screw 9 in the other section, said screw having a nut 9 so that the screw and nut form means to clamp the bar to said other section.

The device is used as follows: The dotted outline of a fragment of a neck-tie is indicated at A. Neck-ties of the type shown (four-in-hand) usually become creased only where the knot is tied, and it is this part of the tie that usually requires to be treated. The device is designed to act especially on this part of the tie, although it also is useful in removing wrinkles in a single operation from all of the tie which extends from that part to the adjoining end. Into said end the device is inserted so that the long or stretching arms of the levers are inward and their short or operating arms are left projecting more or less as handles. The fulcrum-connector is then extended as far as the surrounding part of the tie will permit and its links secured where adjusted by the means 77 Then using the shorter arms as handles the operator, forcing them together, causes the levers to separate as to their longer or stretching arms as far as the enveloping part of the tie will permit, and secures the levers in their new position by tightening up the clamping means of bar 8.

lhe tie is then lightly dampened and left for a few moments to dry, after which the creases or wrinkles Will have been entirely removed. Removal of the device is obviously accomplished by releasing the thumbnuts, permitting it to he collapsed. It will be seen that in order to operatively ada a the device to any tie, however Wide or What ever convergence its side-folds present, involves two simple operations, to Wit, first adjusting the tulcrum-connection to the maximum extension which the tie permits and then, with the fulcrum-connector as a hearing or pimhase for each lever, causing the acting or stretching arms of the levers to move apart to distend the tie to the necessary degree to tauten it by pressing together their other arms.

In short ties vary not only in Width but in the domes of convergence of their side margins or side-folds; and my device is adapted to eilect and maintain ample stretching strain Whatever the convergence presented.

When the sections l are folded on the sections 1, and when the fLllCl'Uill-CUl1llCtOl is collapsed and the bar 8 disconrected from one lever and swung into folded relation to the other the entire device is reduced to very small compass.

Having thus fully described-my invention What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. in a device for stretching tubular flexible articles the combination of a pair of substantially straight levers arranged side by sideand having between their ends a fulcrum-connection With each other adjustahle transversely of the levers, said con nection being nearer one of the pairs of corresponding ends of the two levers than the other pair of such ends whereby the levers have a pair of corresponding short operating arms and a pair oi corresponding long stretching arms and means, engaged with the short operating levers arms, for securing the levers in dih'erent degrees o't convergenz'e t each other.

a device for stretching tubular fie);- q the combination of a pair of straight levers arran 'ed side has" hetvieen their ends a in site :7 and EIll-CUZJIQCtlOB with each other adjust ale transversely of the levers and inchiding overlapping each other and means said portions together, said conbeing arranged nearer one of the pairs oi corresponding ends of the two lovers than the other pair 01 such ends W lei-eh the levers have a pair of corresponding short perating arms and a pair of corresponding long stretching arms, and means, engaged with the short operating lever ari'ns for secnring the levers in different degrees of convergence to each other.

In testimony whereof I ailii; my signature.

FRANK P. Mr RSOH. 

